diff --git a/apps/app_playback.c b/apps/app_playback.c
index 7eeee9dd29..5c566fd935 100644
--- a/apps/app_playback.c
+++ b/apps/app_playback.c
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ static char *descrip =
 ;
 
 
-static struct ast_config *say_cfg;
+static struct ast_config *say_cfg = NULL;
 /* save the say' api calls.
  * The first entry is NULL if we have the standard source,
  * otherwise we are sourcing from here.